Strawberries. 
5 
with a careful study of physical characters, in leading to the 
intelligent application of needed elements. Chemical values are 
potential, and while an analysis may accurately give the per¬ 
centages of the various elements present, it can not tell with exact¬ 
ness what quantity of each essential element is in condition for 
immediate use as plant food. It is hardly possible to analyze the 
complicated processes that are taking place in the soil, converting 
complex inactive compounds into simpler forms ready for use in 
building up plant tissue. These processes are constantly in opera¬ 
tion ; they are less obvious and less known than many phenomena 
that are given prominence, but they are none the less important 
factors bearing upon the productiveness of soils. 
An examination of several analyses of Colorado soils shows 
that they are rich in all of those elements classed among the 
inexhaustible soil ingredients, and that they also contain good 
percentages of the exhaustible elements which are so necessary to 
plant growth—nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash. It may be 
that much of the wealth of plant food shown by these analyses is 
not in an immediately available condition. If this be the case, 
what is the remedy ? I may answer that the remedy may be sought 
in thorough cultivation and in an increase of humus by the addition 
of stable manure or by plowing under a soiling crop. Increase in 
the percentage of humus is important not only for its direct value 
as plant food, but for its influence on the physical condition of the 
soil, and for its action on other soil compounds. It makes clay 
soils less compact and increases the compactness of sandy soils; it 
increases the capillarity of the soil, thus bringing up to the roots 
food-laden water from below ; it acts as a sponge to hold water in the 
soil, and it is a storehouse of nitrogen. 
The strawberry is a gross feeder and to reach perfection 
demands a rich soil. I believe any soil intended for this plant will 
be benefited by a liberal application of stable manure, preferably 
that which has been rotted by composting. Our practice has been 
to apply a heavy dressing in the fall. This is plowed under and 
the surface harrowed down. Then water is applied until the ground 
is thoroughly soaked. In the spring we plow again and thoroughly 
pulverize the surface. The soil is then loose and moist at time of 
planting. 
The principal objection to the use of fresh stable manure is 
that it is likely to carry with it many seeds of troublesome weeds. 
These seeds germinate or are in various ways killed during com¬ 
posting ; then, too, the rotted manure is more readily incorporated 
with the soil and is more quickly available to the plants. 
TIME TO PLANT. 
Ia our practice at the Station we have had the best success 
from spring planting, and believe that in general it will be found 
